Usyk must fight Parker in mandatory heavyweight title boxing bout

WBO moves fast to ensure a title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Joseph Parker after Ukrainian's knockout win over Daniel Dubois; Promoter David Higgins said it would be "an outrage" if Parker did not get his chance to take on the undisputed champion

Oleksandr Usyk has been ordered to fight Joseph Parker next in a mandatory defence of the WBO heavyweight title.

Usyk was crowned as the undisputed champion after a fifth-round knockout win over Daniel Dubois on Saturday July 19 and the WBO have moved fast to enforce a title fight, with both parties given 30 days to agree terms or the bout will go to a purse bid.

Trilogy fights against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua had been mentioned for Usyk, but he will now have to face Parker next, or must vacate the WBO belt.

"The WBO have actually said that the winner of the fight on Saturday, which was Usyk - that's his mandatory. That's the next mandatory due out of the four belts and it has to take place by the end of the year," promoter Frank Warren said.

"Unless he vacates the belt. If he decides to vacate it, then [Parker] will have to fight the No 1."

Fellow promoter David Higgins claimed after the fight that Usyk cannot call himself the greatest heavyweight boxer of his era until he fights and beats Parker.

"The whole world wants to see Parker fight for a world title," Parker told Sky Sports.